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April 2016

April 15, 2016

With a ticking clock counting down to June 30th, the GOP-controlled WV legislature still can't come up with a balanced budget as required by the state constitution.

Many in the GOP--particularly in the House--keep acting as if the budget hasn't already been drastically cut. the Governor has made significant cuts in virtually every area of state government each of the last 3 years. But for some, it's not enough. Governor Tomblin has outlined several options--none of them good, some of them draconian--if more cuts are forced.

Option one includes a four percent cut to public education (resulting in the layoff of 805 teachers and 495 service workers), an eight percent cut to higher education, the immediate elimination of the Promise Scholarship funding and leaving a $43 million gap in PEIA funding.

Option two includes cutting public education by 6.8 percent (resulting in the layoff of 1,369 teachers and 841 service workers), an 18 percent cut in higher ed and a phase out of the Promise Scholarship, but fully funding PEIA.

Option three preserves the Promise Scholarship and fully funds PEIA, but cuts public education by 6.8 percent and closes six state police detachments and six tax offices.

Option four eliminates the state Departments of Commerce, Education and the Arts, Environmental Protection, Revenue (excluding Tax Dept.), Transportation, Veterans’ Assistance, Senior Services and the State Police, resulting in the elimination of 2,758 positions. (Hoppy's Commentary WVMetronews.com 04-08-16)

The answer is not to keep cutting services, stop investing in our education system, and eating our seed corn (The Rainy Day Fund). It is to raise revenue. Coal and gas are in decline and tax revenues are down. We can argue why it's happening, but it's a fruitless debate as we work toward a budget. They ARE down and we need to find new ways to fund the budget. State government has important work to do.

One relatively simple way is by raising the tobacco tax. Tomblin proposed 45 cents a pack. Other have suggested $1.00.

“The lawmakers are faced with tackling this deficit, so it seems to me it is a no-brainer,” Annette Santilli of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network said of the cigarette hike. “It’s a win-win for the state of West Virginia, both long-term and short-term.”

West Virginia’s current cigarette tax of 55 cents per pack ranks 46th nationwide.

Let's get a budget. Remove the anxiety from students, parents, state workers, and residents about whether our state even cares about the average citizen any more. You want to tackle tax reform or resetting priorities, make it #1 on your agenda for the next session. Maybe stop worrying about raw milk and blocking anti-discrimination efforts and deal with the real issues facing our state.

I went off on a rant about this on a recent Watchdog Morning Show. You can listen here as well as my conversation with Ms. Santilli from ACS-CAN.

April 14, 2016

When Wheeling's Convention and Visitor's Bureau (CVB) purchased the Capital Theatre and began its renovations, the purpose--beyond simply saving an historically important building--was to bring additional entertainment into the Friendly City. Essentially to improve the quality of life for those of us who enjoy an evening out--with comedy, concerts, Broadway shows, and other stage events. And it seems to be succeeding. The facility takes a relatively small amount of operating support from tax dollars and Sports/Entertainment Authority Executive Director Denny Magrudedr says it should break even this yer.

The theater, and its companion venue Wesbanco Arena, feature a wide variety of acts and events and many of them are full houses.

The venues right now are essentially rented out to promoters--who then take all the risks, and of course get the greater rewards for success. The CVB makes rental income and the SEA sells concessions. That makes sense to me. The goal of a government entity isn't to make money. It's to provide a service (in this case entertainment) that enriches the quality of life for its citizens.

But some would like to see the SEA and CVB be more proactive and actually become promoters.

CVB Executive Director Frank O'Brien said the Capitol is in a good position despite lacking an entertainment budget. The situation isn't ideal; he would like the money, so the theatre could pursue more events, as well as have selection in what is booked.

However, he said the theater is on the verge of a busy April despite this, with five events scheduled that include John Mellencamp and Old Crow Medicine Show. He said others, like Jerry Seinfeld, have returned to Wheeling because they do very well in the Friendly City.

O'Brien said the theater has limited liability when acts rent the venue. If the theater spends thousands on an act and attendance lacks, the money is gone.

"If we place the right bets, though, we could make a lot of money," he said, suggesting these profits could then fund future events. "It's the seed money that we need." (TheIntelligencer.net).

While I understand the desire to swing for the bigger reward, I don't think the government entities needs to be in the promotion business. Leave that to the pros. Work with them, encourage them, assist them, but they know better than we what works for their clients. And if they make a bad call, it's their loss, not ours.

I had a debate on the issue with one of my listeners this week on The Watchdog Morning Show.

April 13, 2016

Fit4less has been criticised for encouraging bullying in the ad on Tamworth Road in Sawley, Derbyshire.

Parliamentary advisor Natalie Harvey, who founded Nottinghamshire charity Combat Bullying, said: "Just this week alone I've had three cases of bullying due to weight issues and I feel campaigns like this aid bullying.

"I couldn't believe it when I saw it. It's 2016, this sort of fat-shaming humour is offensive.

"I first spotted it on Tuesday and I thought 'I can't just keep driving past', we have a responsibility to say something.

"Children are so fragile, it just doesn't sit well with me.

"If those children or the perpetrators saw this poster it would cause further harm for the children who are being bullied.

"The poster should be removed and replaced with something more tasteful to attract the gym goers."

Fit4less has defended the poster and said they wanted to take a "light-hearted approach" to their advertising.

The musical by Stephen Schwartz is based upon the Gospel according to St. Matthew. Originally directed by John-Michael Tebelak the first production opened off Broadway in 1971. In this retelling of the original sensation, contemporary references and dazzling new arrangements make Godspell 2012 fresh and exciting.(westliberty.edu)

The director, and Associate Professor of Music, Michael Aulick and I talked about it.

Earlier in the month, I talked with choral music director Dr. Scott Glysson about a couple of their upcoming concerts.

April 01, 2016

We've always suspected--here in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia--that we weren't really respected by our southern brethren in the state capitol and other parts of the great Mountain State. But now we see it very clearly.

As West Virginia lawmakers grapple with balancing the budget in the midst of record revenue shortfalls, one scenario being considered is a land deal­—specifically, selling off the panhandles. It’s a controversial plan, but one that’s gaining traction as fiscal realities set in. (WVMetronews.com 4/1/16)

Today on the Watchdog Morning Show, panhandlians responded with their own suggestions to rebuff this effort

Jim Frio offered to help us auction ourselves off to the highest bidder (do we go to Ohio or Pa?). Starting in Hancock County, we will work our way south--county-by-county --getting the best price for and using the cash to fix our roads

Chuck Wood suggests we should take the offensive, beat them to the punch, by seceding the state and becoming the Independent State of Panhandlia (not to be confused with panhandlers)

Mike from Wheeling wants us to turn the tables. WE sell the rest of the state off. Let THEM become someone else's problem and we stand alone as a smaller, but better West Virginia

It's time we stopped being the Rodney Dangerfield of our state--getting no respect--and take our own destiny into our own hands.

I dropped into Statewide Talkline today to discuss it with my good "red" friend, Mr. Kercheval